7.5cm PaK 40/1 auf RSO (Sfl) Tank Destroyer

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The Raupenschlepper Ost (caterpillar tractor east) or RSO was a tracked load carrier designed for the Eastern Front. A number of examples survive, both with and without cabs, including at least one at Saumur in France, two at Clères Musée Automobiles in France, one in the Tired Iron Collection in England, two at Arlon in Belgium, two at Sinsheim in Germany, one at Meppen in Germany (privately owned), and one at Fort Knox in America. However the unarmed type is beyond the scope of this book.In 1943 a prototype tank destroyer was developed based on the chassis of the RSO. It consisted of a 7.5cm PaK 40 gun, less carriage, mounted on a turntable on the load compartment. The wooden sides of the gun compartment had to be hinged down in order to traverse the gun. The only armour protection was provided by the gun shield. A standard truck canvas frame was available that gave cover in bad weather, and also disguised the nature of the vehicle. Some 83 vehicles were converted during 1944 by Steyr, Klöckner-Humbold-Deutz and Auto-Union. They saw service with Panzerjäger units on a number of fronts.

This 7.5cm auf RSO used to be on display at the Victory Memorial Museum at Arlon in Belgium before the museum closed in about 2000. The bulk of the collection then moved to the National Military History Center (known for a time as the WWII Victory Museum). The vehicle is displayed in a small tableaux with a standard RSO carrier.